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I was talking to an acquaintance of mine, trade union leader Samir B, today. This is what he said, "You will gladly pay Rs.160 for a Cutty Sark but will ask the old woman selling spinach to give you two bundles for the price of one". What followed was a lengthy monologue on the eroding values of the nouveau riche.
Election rhetoric or a rapier thrust to our long dead conscience?
11 hours ago
21 comments:
It is true alas!..and the richer we are the more we like to be stingy towards the needy while laundering our money away on costly items where it says 'Fixed Price'
such a bitter truth! such a shame,unnoticed
Conscience never dies. It is the order of Universe that we tend to barter in everything..we tend to squeeze what we can...we tend to oil on the head, which has already plenty of it..
But there are always people out there(like you) who think little different and believe in philanthropy and thus create an amazing balance.
It's shamefully true, we find ourselves embarrassed to negotiate in a branded shop, where it would compromise the perception of one's social position in the eyes of others ; we aren't daunted thus at the local market, where a rupee or more wouldn't really matter much to us but might make a stupendous difference in the routine of the 'spinach lady'.
Life is all about double standards and Einstein might indeed have been impressed at how water-tight his theory of relativity still is today.
As for the 'election rhetoric' vs 'prick of conscience' debate, I always thought it singularly unfortunate how all politicians start out at the grassroots level with sincerely magnanimous and philanthropic ideals but somehow collectively manage to lose their way along the tortuous route of the dangerous power game.
@Shantanu Das
We still live by the perceptions of others. As someone said, "The middle class re those who live in private as the poor do and in public as the rich do"
@still thinking
This is what we are, sadly.
@Shubajit
I was sure that you would have an opinion on this. But no Subhajit, I am not a do-gooder, I still remain a selfish, self-centered soul. All the noble ideas and thoughts are still limited to just thoughts. Maybe, I would not harangue for the spinach but I will still have my Cutty Sarks and Red Labels without any qualms.
@Casurina
That exactly is the point, the 'spinach lady's' daily profit would be around Rs.30. Which would not be enough to buy even half a pack of cigarettes. It is indeed a pity and a shame(as still thinking says) that we, inspite of our all our awareness and selective righteousness, still participate in such double standards.
Pity :( I shot those images in national art gallery in Delhi
As you said yourself, Sujoy, 'All the noble ideas and thoughts are still limited to just thoughts' thats where the root of the problem lies. Brand value is highly valued and we never change...
@exposemaximum
You seem to have a nose for eye-catching stuff
@modern exile
It is not about brands really. It has more to do with our morbid obsessions with acceptibility....to gel in with the crowd. Even when, at times it seems so artificial.
But what gets my goat really is when the same people try to make a bargain at the spinach-sellers cost.
man..your blog keeps getting better everyday.
@.L.O.S.T.
Thanks a lot. Your blog too has a changed tone :)
Our conscience is too numb, too long dead to feel anything sujoy. this has long been the rule, exploit anybody who is under you in the social ladder, and in turn open yourself to exploitation by anybody who is above you...
nice point.
Thought provoking post.
The middleclass needs the less affluent section of the society to feel good about itself.So subconsciously it always acts in way which would help maintain the status quo.Just believe you go on paying 2 rupees extra to your vegetable vendor everyday and tomorrow you might see her driving her own nano..ohhh no..how can you ever let that happen when you yourself drive a 10 year old Maruti 800.
I am no social scientist , but i guess certain things are inevitable in a society which is deeply divided along lines of class and social status.
@Little Girl Lost
Nicely said. Willful submission to exploitation is a much under-researched social phenomenon.
@Polka
"The middleclass needs the less affluent section of the society to feel good about itself". Strong but shamefully true comment on the modern developing society. Little Girl Lost's thoughts too were along the same lines. You got to stamp your authority somewhere....
From an academic standpoint: Documented under the expectations revolution in economics.
I bought vegetables from a roadside vendor yesterday and just as i was about demand the chillies for free....i remembered yr blog and was held back..That's the success of the post..thank you!!!!
ur friend had a point...then again being a retail consultant...would like to point out that had the old woman wrapped her spinach in clear pastic neatly with the muddy ends trimmed u would have paid two bucks etc to take her spinach than that of the guy selling it sitting next to her.
Its all about how things are presented.
@clueless comrades
This is one revolution the working-class would not participate in :)
@Tanaya
I am humbled. So now what, a Magsaysay nomination?
@Pinku
Hard to find spinach wrapped in plastic and with the muddy roots neatly trimmed except at the fresh vegetables section of a swanky mall. Which again brings us the notion of respectfully paying bloated prices at...well swanky places.
Hey how are you?
Well, we always judge the book by its cover, even if we may deny it.
Excellent post Sujoy! Like Tanaya, I'll probably be reminded of your post when I visit a vegetable seller next. Very well written :)
Well now, Sujoy, I think we're all going to follow in Tanaya's footsteps, so you might as well bask in the sunshine of this successful post ! :-)
@Dibbasatya
Been a long time since Black. Will be visting your blog soon.
@Bhargav Saikia and Casurina
I really had no intention to preach, but if the post does persuade you along those line, then I would be very much honoured.
Thanks for the appreciation.
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